The Matrix Meets Lucifer In Prime Video's 26-Part Fantasy Series

Prime Video's 26-part TV series blended fantasy and sci-fi in a way that has not yet been equaled, even today. The Matrix and Lucifer could not be more different, except that they both use the internet. The two projects have wildly different tones, and yet one of Prime Video's best fantasy TV shows seamlessly incorporated the best of both. Lucifer humanized Biblical characters with self-aware commentary and humor, and while The Matrix might not be the pinnacle of comedy, it highlighted the menace posed by out-of-control technology when confronted with the messiness and spontaneity of human life.

Prime Video's three-season fantasy series, American Gods, explores a conflict between familiar deities and the "new gods" of technology as they fight for control in America. Characters like the Ghanaian trickster god Anansi, the Norse god Odin, and even the Christian Jesus Christ exist alongside new deities like Media, Mr. World, and Technical Boy. When the brokenhearted former convict Shadow Moon is introduced to this war, his presence is set to change their dynamic. Unfortunately, despite its intriguing and irreverent premise, American Gods is a fantasy show that declined after one season, leaving a legacy that unfairly overshadows its achievements.

American Gods Has One Of The Most Stacked Fantasy Casts Of All Time

Of all the fantasy TV shows that have been canceled before they could achieve greatness, American Gods' cast placed the series at the top of the list. In order to translate the lore-filled source material for the screen, the casting had to be perfect, resulting in one of the greatest ensemble casts seen in a fantasy TV show. One of the book's greatest strengths is its vivid character descriptions, with people like Mr. Wednesday and Mad Sweeney feeling tangible despite their mythical status. The characters walk a line between the gravitas of divine power and being deeply human.

Striking this balance required a multifaceted cast of experienced character actors. American Gods is the only TV show in which Gillian Anderson plays both Marilyn Monroe and David Bowie, Peter Stormare turns the Slavic death god Czernobog into a grumpy hammer-wielding slaughterhouse worker, and Emily Browning becomes a surprisingly sympathetic zombie. The series also stars Ricky Whittle (The 100,) Ian McShane (Deadwood, Pirates of the Caribbean,) Omid Abtahi (The Mandalorian,) and Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones.) Like Lucifer, American Gods' cast carry the show's more serious moments, resulting in one of it's best scenes.

Episode 2 of American Gods begins with a slave ship sailing to America, on which Orlando Jones gives one of the most underrated acting performances in a fantasy show. Jones, as Anansi, gives a powerful speech to the chained men onboard, telling them of their fates and inspiring them to rebel and die rather than be enslaved. This speech, easily the best in the series, gave a glimpse of what American Gods was capable of, in holding up a mirror to society and giving a blistering critique of its reflection. Unfortunately, the series was never allowed to conclude.

Why American Gods May Never Get Its Final Season (But It's Still Worth Watching)

American Gods' cancelation is not just heartbreaking but infuriating. The havoc and mayhem that made the series so captivating was considerably less of an asset behind the scenes, and the show reportedly had some significant issues in this department. The first season was developed by Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Michael Green (Blade Runner 2049,) but after rumored disagreements with Neil Gaiman, who wrote both American Gods and Lucifer, the two departed, and each subsequent season had a new showrunner. With stars like Gillian Anderson and Kristin Chenoweth reportedly leaving due to this change, the show had continuity issues.

The tone of American Gods began to shift, resulting in lower ratings, cast changes, and the controversial departure of Orlando Jones, who was said to be told that his character, Mr. Nancy, "sent the wrong message to Black America." With racism being a central topic in the book and Mr. Nancy being a fan favorite, this was not received well. The third season then ended with a major cliffhanger before being canceled, and with Neil Gaiman facing multiple accusations of sexual assault, it appears that the show will never get its fourth season and resolution.

Despite the show only airing for three seasons instead of the five that had been planned, American Gods is still worth watching. The troubled production and controversies might have overshadowed the show's reputation, but the visuals are stunning, the first season is nearly perfect, and the cast performances deserve to be seen in each of the seasons, with the standout acting being the one constant throughout the series. With its similarities to the human and machine battles in The Matrix and characterization of ancient deities, American Gods deserves to be appreciated for what it did well.